Werdum (left) provokes Hunt (right) with an oxygen mask. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube
During the last week, Mark Hunt, who only had three weeks to prepare for UFC 180, said a few times that he was finding it difficult to adapt to the Mexican altitude. The statement did not go unnoticed by the Brazilian Fabricio Werdum, who, relaxed as usual, used the fact to provoke his opponent. After passing through the scales at the event's official weigh-in, this Friday (14), Werdum went toe-to-toe with Hunt, against whom he is competing for the interim heavyweight belt, wearing an oxygen mask and offered it to his rival.
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The New Zealander couldn't contain his laughter when he saw the scene and took the provocation in stride, even taking the “gift” from the Brazilian's hands. Only then did the two strike the traditional pose with their fists clenched and their gaze fixed. This was not, however, Werdum's only joke, who made a point of taking a Selfie with the audience present at the “Arena Ciudad de Mexico” when he entered the stage and, later, lead the chorus of the traditional Mexican song “Cielito Lindo”, sung at the top of his lungs by those present, under the promise that it will be his entrance song to the event this Saturday (15).
On balance, Werdum had a much calmer life than Hunt. The Brazilian weighed 105,2 kg, exactly 15 kg less than what is allowed for the category. The New Zealander, who revealed when accepting the fight that he would have to lose no less than 20 kg, reached the division limit, 120,2 kg. With this, the two confirmed the main duel of the night and will fight for the interim heavyweight category belt.
Even without specialist help, Gastelum overcomes the scale
With recurring problems getting through the scales, the TUF 17 champion Kelvin Gastelum this time it didn't feature “diet wizard” Mike Dolce. But anyone who thinks that's why he had trouble making weight is wrong. Gastelum hit 77,5 kg with relative ease and still found the strength to exchange provocations with rival Ellenberger, who also scored 77,5 kg, in the face-off. The pair are in the co-main fight of the night.
TUF finalists make weight with surplus
At most weigh-ins, it is common to see almost all athletes performing at the exact limit of their category or even using the excess pounds allowed in fights not valid for the belt. But in the case of the TUF Latin America finalists, weight doesn't seem to be a real problem. None of the four athletes who make the two decisions on the reality show used the excess pounds allowed and one of them even performed below the weight limit.
In the bantamweight category, Alejandro Pérez and José Quiñonez they weighed 61,2 kg. In the featherweight division, Yair Rodriguez performed at 65,7 kg, while his rival Leonardo Morales came in even lighter at 65,3 kg. From the duels, which close the preliminary card, the first two champions in the history of TUF Latin America will emerge.
Check out all the results from the official UFC 180 weigh-in below:
MAIN CARD
Heavy weight (up to 120 kg): Fabricio Werdum (105 kg)x Mark Hunt (120,2 kg);
Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Kelvin Gastelum (77,5 kg) x Jake ellenberger (77,5 kg);
Featherweight (up to 66 kg): Dennis Bermudez (66,2 kg) x Ricardo Lamas (65,8 kg);
Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Chris Heatherly (77,1 kg)x Augusto Montaño (70,7 kg);
Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Edgar García (77,1 kg) x Hector Urbina (76,6 kg).
PRELIMINARY CARD
Featherweight (up to 66 kg): Yair Rodríguez (65,7 kg) x Leonardo Morales (65,3 kg);
Bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Alejandro Pérez (61,2 kg) x José Quiñonez (61,2 kg);
Bantam weight (up to 61,2 kg): Jessica Eye (60,7 kg) x Leslie Smith (60,7 kg);
Featherweight (up to 66 kg): Gabriel Benítez (65,7 kg) x Humberto Brown (66,2 kg);
Bantam weight (up to 61,2 kg): Guido cannetti (61,2 kg)x Henry Briones (60,8 kg);
Bantam weight (up to 61,2 kg): Marlon Vera (61,2 kg) x Marco Beltrán (61,6 kg);
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